Teaching Tips
Helping the Chronically Negative Child
Do you have a child who tends to focus on the negative? One whose glass is always half empty? I do and I’m here to say that it can really be exhausting and discouraging at times. I tend to be an optimist and I dislike negativity, probably to a fault. So facing a child...
Choosing the Best Dyslexia Help Program
Determining if a dyslexia help program is the best one for your family involves careful research and evaluation. Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects reading and writing skills, and it's essential to choose a program that is evidence-based and provides...
Self-Directed Learning with Blake Boles
Self-directed learning is an approach to education that allows students to choose what and how they learn. Similar to unschooling or interest-led learning, it is a powerful method for real learning that is especially helpful for kids who are non-traditional learners...
Fostering Internal Motivation to Learn
Over my nearly three decades of parenting and educating kids with dyslexia and ADHD I have learned that if we can foster a child's sense of internal motivation, home education is way easier and more enjoyable for everyone. But how do we foster internal motivation?...
Narration: An Introduction to Composition
Charlotte Mason, an English educator from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, left an enduring legacy in the field of education with her innovative and holistic approach. One of the key components of her philosophy is narration, a powerful technique for teaching...
How to Homeschool Kids With Dyslexia
After homeschooling my seven kids with dyslexia for nearly 30 years, here is what I want you to know about how to homeschool your kids with dyslexia. I'm working on writing and recording a new Parent Master Class on what you need to know to establish a balanced,...
A Day in the Life of a Non-Traditional Homeschool
I’ve been sharing here and there how we are homeschooling our non-traditional 9th grader this year. I've had quite a few questions about what our day looks like so today I'm sharing a typical day in the life of our non-traditional homeschool. Of my 8 kids, 6 have...
How to Choose the Best Dyslexia Options
There are so many good resources for teaching kids with dyslexia it can be hard to know what the best dyslexia options are. We're well into the school year now. The honeymoon period with its excitement over new curricula, courses, and co-ops has ended and we are faced...
When to Take a Break From Reading Instruction
Does your child shut down when it comes to reading? Do they cry or berate themselves or refuse to do their reading lessons? It may be time to take a break from reading instruction. The scenario is not uncommon. For a variety of reasons, children can come to resist...
Four Ways to Troubleshoot Learning Struggles
Using weekly review planning sheets helps me to troubleshoot my kids' learning struggles with confidence. Many of us have spent a lot of time over the summer planning and preparing for the current school year. Maybe you joined one of my coaching groups or you went to...
Adaptive Typing With Dyslexia and Dysgraphia
One of the most common accommodations offered to students with dyslexia and dysgraphia is learning to type. Adaptive typing is a specific method of typing that works well. Because people with language-based learning difficulties have a hard time with the written word,...
Effective Reward Systems for Kids and Teens With ADHD
Reward systems are an incredibly effective way to help kids and teens with ADHD change their behaviors. Because of the unique wiring of ADHD brains, rewards are especially motivating. Because ADHD brains are under-stimulated, they need excitement and rewards to get...